Returning to school isn't always easy. Between work, family, and other responsibilities, it sometimes feels like educational goals get put on hold indefinitely. The Fred E. Freeman Scholarship helps Notre Dame staff invest in their future by supporting these goals that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Each year, the scholarship helps staff pursue degrees, certifications, and other educational opportunities that support professional growth. The scholarship provides up to $2,000 per semester to eligible staff members and may be used for expenses such as tuition, required books, and course fees. Recipients are selected based on eligibility requirements, the relevance of their educational pursuits to their current or future roles, and available funding.
However, the Fred E. Freeman Scholarship is about more than financial assistance. It's about investing in the people who make Notre Dame what it is. Over the years, recipients have used the scholarship to pursue educational goals, build confidence, expand their skills to create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
Here are a few of their stories.
Maggie Schmicker
I have just completed a 2 semester Histotechnician program through the Indiana University School of Medicine. I currently serve as a Facility Technician at the University of Notre Dame’s Freimann Life Science Center, where my responsibilities span from giving facility tours to new lab members, to helping with experimental set-up and ensuring that each research team has the tools and support they need to succeed. Notre Dame’s Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF) Histology Core provides services such as tissue processing, embedding, sectioning, and staining — all of which are critical for researchers seeking to visualize the microscopic structure of their specimens. Having seen firsthand the impact of these services, I want to contribute directly to this work and this scholarship allowed me this opportunity. I envision a future where I can support research labs not only during the initial stages of setting up their animal models but also in preserving and preparing the biological samples that encapsulate months — sometimes years — of scientific effort.
This was such a wonderful opportunity and I am so thankful to have received this scholarship.
Raven Carr
Through my work as a nurse at University Health Services, I have been inspired to advance my education by pursuing a Nurse Practitioner degree. This will allow me to provide a broader scope of care to our students. As a full-time employee and parent of young children, obtaining a Master's degree would be out of reach financially without The Fred E. Freeman Staff Scholarship. I am thankful for this opportunity and hope my experience encourages other staff members to pursue their own educational goals!
Staff members interested in the Fred E. Freeman Scholarship are encouraged to submit their applications by June 30. The scholarship is available to eligible regular, full-time, non-exempt staff members who have completed at least one year of full-time service as of the first day of classes for which assistance is requested. Continued full-time employment throughout the course of study is required.
For application materials, eligibility information, and additional details, visit the Fred E. Freeman Scholarship article.
By investing in staff members’ educational goals, the Fred E. Freeman Scholarship continues a legacy of opportunity, growth, and lifelong learning, helping ensure that when Notre Dame’s people succeed, the University succeeds as well.